Medical Innovation Bills On Fast Track In Congress, But Some Barriers Remain

With an all-Republican House, Senate and administration lined up to lead the government following the 2016 elections, the path is clear for passage of a set of FDA reforms to ease device approvals embedded in a combined House 'Cures' and Senate medical innovation package. It could even happen over the upcoming lame-duck session, before the new administration and Congress take over. But controversy around price-gouging by drug firms still could stymie quick Cures bill passage, an industry attorney predicts. Meanwhile, medtech industry groups plan to seize on the Trump victory as a means to achieve permanent device tax repeal.

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The election of Donald Trump as the next US president and a secure Republican-led Congress for the 2017-2018 session has provided the device industry with fresh hope that its legislative wish-list will become a reality, trade groups and industry attorneys say.

Campaign results in tight Senate and House races have left most device-friendly legislators still sitting on key committees. And with Democratic President Barack Obama winding up...

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